Retaining device



Jan. 30, R J. HOGAN RETAINING DEVICE 1 Filed May 7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 (i? INVENTOR.

H BY P6267731! J, Hoga Jan. 30, 1945. 1 HOGAN 2,368,544

. RETAINING DEVICE Filed May 7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fia RETAINING DEVICE Filed May '7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 12 fzgje. 138

$54 I L, i

1N VENTOR.

Patented Jan. 30, 1945 UNITED STATES FATE v RETAINING DEVICE! Patrick Hogan, New Haven, Conn.

Application May 7, 1941, Serial No. 392,225

5 Claims.

I My invention relates to retaining means for pins, boltsand other similar securing members. .Themain object of my invention is to design a retainer for brake pins commonlyused -in rail-' way brake arrangements wherein wear between the retainer and the pin because of vibrations of the parts is reduced'to a minimum and wherein long life .under service conditions is obtained.

In my invention a brake pin may be formed with a transverse passage'at one end thereof for reception of the shank portionof my novel re"- tainer device and with slots spacedinwardly from said passage on opposite sides of said pin for receiving jaw portions on thehead ofsaid device, said head being of generally washer-like form. with the jaws tightly clasp-ing the brake pin;

An object of my invention is to design a novel key retainer wherein the head at one end of the, key is positioned between its shank portion and the associated secured member and serves as a Washer. I

Another object of my invention includes a key device wherein the. possibility of shearing offthe key is reduced to a minimum, the shearing stresses being transmitted throughthe-head to the brake pin with the shank portion of said key being substantially free from said shearing stresses.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a. brake pin with one modification of my-novel retainer device applied thereto.

. igure 2 is a sectional view through the brake pin shown in Figure 1, the section being taken substantially in the transverse plane indicated by the line 2-'-2 of Figure 1.

used in Figures 6 and 7, Figure 8 being atop view of the key with the head twisted approxi' mately 90 to the shank, and Figure 8A being a side elevation of the key shown in Figure 8 in its final form.

Figures 9 and 9A show a different modification of my novel key device, Figure 9 being a top plan View before the head is bent to its final position, and Figure 9A 'being a side-elevationshow ing the'keydevice'in its final form.

. Figure 10 is a top view of a brake pin showing the application of a key in Figures-9 and 9A,

, Figure 11.

Figures 3 and 3A show in detail the retainer device used in the structure shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 being a front plan view, andFigureSA- being a side view. g f y Figure 4 is a front plan view of a modification of the retainer device shown in. Figures. 3 and 3A.

of the retainer device shown in Figures 3and 3A.

Figure 5 being a top plan view of the retainer. before the head is bent into 'finalpo'sition, and Figure 5A being a side elevation showing the key Figures 5 and 5A show a further modification i-Figures. s. and 8A show detail the key device of thepassage B. Theshank I0 is said key being shown in section, the section being taken; in the transverse plane through the key device just: above the surface of the brake'p'in Figure 11 is a side elevation of another modification of my novel invention, and Figure 12 is a sectional view through thestructure shown in Figure 11 and taken substantially in the transverse plane indicated by the line IZ- IZ of Figure 13 is a side elevation of still another modification ofrmy novel invention, and Figure- 14 is a top plan view of the key retainer used in the embodiment shown in Figure 13.

In the-embodiment shownxin Figures 1 tot, the brake pin 2 comprises a .shank'4 having at one end a head 6 and adjacent to its'opposite enda transverse passage or hole 8 extending therethrough. The shank or body portion ID" of my novel key retainer projects through the passage 8 and a flange M on the head l6'of the key is secured to one endof said shank in any convenient manneras by welding at l2. The head I6 i is -of washer like form presenting a generally 'application, the shank and head are inserted into the passage 8 and grooves 22, 22 respectively and" are driven into position so that the inmost edges ofthe slot l8 are tightly wedged against 'the'brake pin 4 as at 24, 24 and the shank l0 tightly engages ,at 26 a lower portion of the inner surfaces longitudinally splitasat 28, one of said split portions being, slightly longer than the other to facilitate spreading the split portions to further secure the key on the brake pin. It will be apparent that the head, l6- serves as a washer and. presents a'fiat face 32 against which the associated secured member may have bearing. Shear stresses are transmitted through the head IIito the brake pin by its engagement with the grooves 22, 22, and it will thus be apparent that the shank I is substantially free of shearing stresses.

The modification of the cotter key device shown in Figure 4 differs from that shown in Figures 3 and 3A only in that the slot 34, which is defined by the jaws 36, 36 formed on the head 38; is afforded edges which are substantially parallel instead of being flared outward as in the previous modification. The application of the form the forks 8B, 88 of the Y, said stock being folded back along the forks 88, 08 as at 90, 00 to afford a slot 92 with slightly outward flared edges. The head is then bent at 94 into lateral spaced relationship with the shank 04 and slightly di-' verges therefrom. The application of the device 82 to a brake pin is shown in Figure wherein it may be noted that the brake pin 96 is formed at one end with a passage or opening 98 accommodating the shank 84 and grooves I00, I00 formed on opposite sides of the pin for engagement with the forks 88, 88. As in the previous cotter key device is substantially identical with that described in Figures 1 and 2.

In the modification shown in Figures 5 and 5A the head and shank of the key 40 are formed integrally instead of being welded as in the device shown in Figures 3 and 3A. The shank 42 may be split into two members as at 44 with one member slightly longer than the other to facilitate spreading thereof in assembly. The generally circular head 46 is integrally formedwith the shank 42 and presents the jaws 48, 48 which define the slot 50. The configuration of said head 46 is substantially similar to that in the modification shown in Figures 3 and 3A with the inner edges of slot 50 flared slightly outward. After the head and shank have been formed as shown in Figure 5, the head may be bent or folded over at 52 so that it lies along an adjacent portion of the .shank 42 in spaced and slightly diverging relationship. The key 40 is applied to a brake pin in similar manner to that described in the firstmodification with inmost edges of slot 50 in wedge engagement with the associated pin within accommodating grooves and the shank 42 extending through the hole in the pin spaced axially from the grooves.

- In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 'I the brake pin 56 is formed with a shank 58 havin at one end a head,50 and having at its opposite end a rectangular transverse passage 62 extending therethrough, the long diameter of said passage being aligned with the longitudinal axis of said pin. Extending through the passage 62 is the shank 64 of the key retainer 66, said shank 04 being formed of rectangular cross-section. The key 66 has a head 68 of generally washer-like form with the jaws I0, 10 defining therebetween the slot I2 which is afiorded slightly outward flaring inner edges. The head 08 may be twisted approximately 90 with respect to the shank 54 as shown in Figure Sand may then be bent back as at 14 to almost parallel spaced-relationship with the shank B4, slight divergence being allowed so that said shank may be sprung against the inner surfaces of the passage 32 at IS. The jaws 10, I0 embrace or clasp the brake pin within accommodating slots I8, 18 formed in opposite sides of the brake pin and spaced axially inward from the passage 52. The lower end of the shank 64 may be bent upward to either the right or'left of the brake pin to firmly secure said key on the brake pin. Application of key 68 is similar to that previously described.

In the modification of my novel key retainer shown in Figures 9 and 10 the cotter key 82 may be formed of half round cotter stock bent into a generally Y configuration. The shank 84 is formed of portions of the cotter stock placed alongside each other to form a substantially circular cross-section, one portion being slightly longer than the other to facilitate assembly. The shank portions of the stock diverge as at 88 to modifications, the head tightly clasps the brake pin within the grooves I00, I00 and the shank tightly engages a portion of the inner surfaces of the passage 08. The portions of the shank 84 may be spread to further prevent disassembly of the key from the shank.

In the modification shown in Figures 11 and 12 it may be noted that my novel invention includes a standard cotter key and a washer-like head of generally similar configuration to that shown in the modification in Figures 1 to 3. The washerlike head I02 is formed with jaw-portions I04; I04 defining a slot I03, the inner edges of which are diverged slightly outwardly. The jaw por-' tions I04, I04 are accommodated within transverse slots I08, I08 formed on opposite sides of the shank of the brake pin H0 and tightly engage said shank at H2. The head I02 is formed with a flanged portion H4 having an opening H6 aligned with the transverse hole or passage II8 in the pin IIO, said passage II8 being spaced axially outward from the slots I08, I08. shank of a standard cotter key I20 extends through the opening H3 and through the hole H8, and 'thelower end of said shank may be spread in usual manner to securely retain the device on the end of the brake pin.

In the modification shown in Figures 13 and 14 the key retainer I24 comprises a head I26 of generally similar configuration as the heads in the previous modifications. The spaced jaw portions I28, I28 define therebetween the slot I30 and said jaw portions may be accommodated within the transverse slots I32, I32 formed on opposite sides of the shank of the brake pin I34. The body portion I36 of the key retainer I24 is of generally oval shape and is integrally formed with the head I26 through a neck portion I38. In the body portion I36 is an opening I40 which is adapted to accommodate as at I41 the associated and of the brake pin I34 as said key retainer is bent at its neck portion I38 into assembled position as shown by the dotted lines at I42 in Figure 13. It is thus apparent that the key retainer is secured on the end of the brake pin I34 by the tight engagement of the jaw portions with the shank of the brake pin and by the'reception of the end of the brake pin within the opening I40.

It will thus be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have designed a novel key retainer device having a head which not only acts as a washer but also functions to retain said key on said pin and to transmit shearing stresses directly to the pin with the result that shearing ofi of the retaining key during operation is reduced to a minimum.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device skilled in the art without departing from the The spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: 1. A retainer of the class described consisting of .a flat rigid head comprising spaced substantially coplanar rigid jaws having their adjacent 5 edges divergingoutwardly and defining a slot therebetween, and a straight body member resiliently connected to the spacing portion of said head and diverging outwardly from the plane of said jaws.

2. A retainer of the class described consisting of a flat head with spaced jaws lying in a common plane, and a flat body member lying in a plane approximately perpendicular to said firstmentioned plane, said body member being resill5 iently connected to the spacing portion of said head and diverging outwardly from said firstmentioned plane.

3. A retainer of the class described formed of a segment of flexible semi-round section stock', 20

so bent that its flat faces are in abutment to form a substantially round section, said retainer including a head with spaced Jaws lying in a common plane, and a body member connected to said head and diverging from said plane.

4. A retainer of the class described comprising a flat head with spaced jaws lying in a common plane and a flat body member lying in a plane approximately perpendicular to said firstmentioned plane, said body member being split longitudinally thereof and being resiliently connected to the spacing portion of said head, and said body member diverging outwardly from said first-mentioned plane. Y

5. A retainer of the class described comprising a flat head withspaced jaws lying in a common plane, the upper edge vo1? said head being flanged, and a flat bodymember lying in a plane perpendicular to said first-mentioned plane, said body member being welded at its upper end to said flanged portion "and diverging outwardly from said first-mentioned plane.

PATRICK J. HOGAN. 

